Music to Your Ears

BiPolar

Its slogan is “Everything a mall store isn’t,” but the truth is, you won’t find a store like BiPolar anywhere.

Ninety percent of the locally owned business’ items, which include clothing, art work, candles and jewelry, are consigned by New Mexicans. What caught our eye was the sizable selection of local band T-shirts, CDs and stickers. No longer must you wait for a late-night gig to score a Vertigo Venus “Shut Up and Die” tee or a psychedelic SuperGiant top.

Since the store opened on Sept. 19, Assistant Manager Hypatia Johnson has been combing through MySpace on the prowl for new merch. “I’m constantly looking for more bands,” Johnson says. “When I go home, all I do is peruse the Internet and send out messages to local groups.”

Johnson says band gear fits right into BiPolar’s mission. “The whole idea was to showcase local artists,” she explains. “So if we’re going to have candles and natural organic soaps and jewelry, why wouldn’t we showcase the local music talent as well?”

If your band would like to get in on the action, send an e-mail to bi_polarstore@yahoo.com, or call 872-2739. BiPolar is in Coronado Mall on the upper level near LensCrafters.

Oscillation

The eargasm that is the Oscillation Electronic Music Festival takes over The Cell Theatre (700 First Street NW) and The Agency (111 Fourth Street SW) this weekend. In its eighth year, Oscillation is hurling more than 20 bands and DJs on stage. And for the first time ever, it’s helping you learn something, too, with three workshops on Saturday, Oct. 11. The schedule looks like this:

There’s also a closing party at The Agency on Sunday, Oct. 12, at 6 p.m. Full festival passes can be purchased at myspace.com/oscillationfest for $25. Each night at The Cell will run you $15. Taking in all three workshops costs you $5, as does each DJ night at The Agency. All ages are welcome. F.Y.I., the festival’s non-MySpace website has been hijacked, so steer clear.